RIO DE JANEIRO TRAVEL GUIDE 🇧🇷🌞 Top 25 Things to Do, See, Eat & Experience in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

19 places in this vlog

In the order they appear. Tap a time to play it here, or ↗ to open YouTube at that second.

1. 0:35

   Christ the Redeemer

   🏢 Landmark · Corcovado

   Take the train when the station opens; fog can sometimes hide the statue.

2. 1:05

   Ipanema Hippie Fair

   🛒 Market · Ipanema

   Runs Sundays 9am–5pm at Praça General Osório; the fresh coconut cocada is a sweet treat.

3. 2:05

   Selarón Steps

   🏢 Landmark · Lapa

   Selarón first scavenged tiles from construction sites; travelers later donated tiles from their home countries.

4. 2:25

   Museum of Tomorrow

   🏛️ Museum · Centro

   Has drawn big crowds ever since it opened.

5. 2:43

   Rio by Bike

   🚡 Activity · Copacabana

   A good option for seeing a lot of Rio when pressed for time; the company also runs favela tours.

6. 3:15

   Babilônia and Chapéu Mangueira

   🏘️ Neighborhood · Leme

   The guided tour meets in Leme and ends with a beer at a local spot; vultures circle near the summit.

7. 6:03

   Ipanema Beach

   🏢 Landmark · Ipanema

   Best on a clear day for the sunset.

8. 6:14

   Dois Irmãos

   🏢 Landmark · Vidigal · brief mention

9. 6:23

   Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian

   ⛩️ Temple · Centro

   Bizarre-looking but unique enough to be worth a look inside.

10. 6:49

    National Museum of Fine Arts

    🏛️ Museum · Centro

    A good way to spend a rainy afternoon.

11. 7:09

    Theatro Municipal

    🏢 Landmark · Centro

12. 7:29

    Confeitaria Colombo

    ☕ Cafe · Centro

    The brigadeiro is fudge-thick and very sweet; kings, queens and most Brazilian presidents have visited.

13. 9:31

    Sugarloaf Mountain

    🏢 Landmark · Urca

    The cable car ride is unnerving, so it's not ideal for anyone scared of heights.

14. 9:56

    Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

    🌳 Park · Jardim Botânico

    Feels miles away from the city's chaos; good for a slow stroll.

15. 10:51

    São João Batista Cemetery

    🏛️ Historic site · Botafogo

    Carmen Miranda is buried here.

16. 11:14

    Copacabana Beach

    🏢 Landmark · Copacabana

    Packed on summer weekends but much more relaxed in winter; grab a fresh coconut from a promenade stand.

17. 11:46

    Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas

    🌳 Park · Lagoa

    A 7.2 km walking and biking path circles the lagoon.

18. 13:59

    Praça Mauá

    🏢 Landmark · Centro

    Liveliest on weekends.

19. 18:41

    Lapa

    🏘️ Neighborhood · Lapa · brief mention